❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Minister's decision to withhold the Country Age Pension Fuel Card contract, his handling of freedom of information requests, and the subsequent tabling of the document after the Auditor General's investigation commenced. The Minister defends his actions, stating he acted on advice from his department and other agencies.
AnsweredQoN 631Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COUNTRY AGE PENSION FUEL CARD — TABLING OF CONTRACT
I refer to the finding by the Auditor General that the minister’s decision to not table the Country Age Pension Fuel Card contract was not reasonable. (1) Does the minister acknowledge that, prior to refusing to release this contract, he received legal advice from the State Solicitor that there was no reason to withhold the contract? (2) Does he acknowledge that he released the contract only after the Auditor General commenced his investigation? (3) Given the minister’s appalling record in this matter and on freedom of information applications, what changes does the minister propose to make to his office practices to deliver greater accountability and transparency? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
I refer to the finding by the Auditor General that the minister’s decision to not table the Country Age Pension Fuel Card contract was not reasonable. (1) Does the minister acknowledge that, prior to refusing to release this contract, he received legal advice from the State Solicitor that there was no reason to withhold the contract? (2) Does he acknowledge that he released the contract only after the Auditor General commenced his investigation? (3) Given the minister’s appalling record in this matter and on freedom of information applications, what changes does the minister propose to make to his office practices to deliver greater accountability and transparency? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Armadale for the question. (1)-(3) I disagree with the premise of the question. The member said that I had received advice that I ignored. In fact, the advice I received came from my department—at the time, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development—with the support of the Department of Treasury and Finance and the State Solicitor’s Office. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
(1) Does the minister acknowledge that, prior to refusing to release this contract, he received legal advice from the State Solicitor that there was no reason to withhold the contract? (2) Does he acknowledge that he released the contract only after the Auditor General commenced his investigation? (3) Given the minister’s appalling record in this matter and on freedom of information applications, what changes does the minister propose to make to his office practices to deliver greater accountability and transparency? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question. (1)-(3) I disagree with the premise of the question. The member said that I had received advice that I ignored. In fact, the advice I received came from my department—at the time, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development—with the support of the Department of Treasury and Finance and the State Solicitor’s Office. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
(2) Does he acknowledge that he released the contract only after the Auditor General commenced his investigation? (3) Given the minister’s appalling record in this matter and on freedom of information applications, what changes does the minister propose to make to his office practices to deliver greater accountability and transparency? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question. (1)-(3) I disagree with the premise of the question. The member said that I had received advice that I ignored. In fact, the advice I received came from my department—at the time, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development—with the support of the Department of Treasury and Finance and the State Solicitor’s Office. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
(3) Given the minister’s appalling record in this matter and on freedom of information applications, what changes does the minister propose to make to his office practices to deliver greater accountability and transparency? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question. (1)-(3) I disagree with the premise of the question. The member said that I had received advice that I ignored. In fact, the advice I received came from my department—at the time, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development—with the support of the Department of Treasury and Finance and the State Solicitor’s Office. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question. (1)-(3) I disagree with the premise of the question. The member said that I had received advice that I ignored. In fact, the advice I received came from my department—at the time, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development—with the support of the Department of Treasury and Finance and the State Solicitor’s Office. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
I thank the member for Armadale for the question. (1)-(3) I disagree with the premise of the question. The member said that I had received advice that I ignored. In fact, the advice I received came from my department—at the time, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development—with the support of the Department of Treasury and Finance and the State Solicitor’s Office. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
(1)-(3) I disagree with the premise of the question. The member said that I had received advice that I ignored. In fact, the advice I received came from my department—at the time, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development—with the support of the Department of Treasury and Finance and the State Solicitor’s Office. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
(1) Does the minister acknowledge that, prior to refusing to release this contract, he received legal advice from the State Solicitor that there was no reason to withhold the contract? (2) Does he acknowledge that he released the contract only after the Auditor General commenced his investigation? (3) Given the minister’s appalling record in this matter and on freedom of information applications, what changes does the minister propose to make to his office practices to deliver greater accountability and transparency? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question. (1)-(3) I disagree with the premise of the question. The member said that I had received advice that I ignored. In fact, the advice I received came from my department—at the time, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development—with the support of the Department of Treasury and Finance and the State Solicitor’s Office. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
(2) Does he acknowledge that he released the contract only after the Auditor General commenced his investigation? (3) Given the minister’s appalling record in this matter and on freedom of information applications, what changes does the minister propose to make to his office practices to deliver greater accountability and transparency? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question. (1)-(3) I disagree with the premise of the question. The member said that I had received advice that I ignored. In fact, the advice I received came from my department—at the time, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development—with the support of the Department of Treasury and Finance and the State Solicitor’s Office. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
(3) Given the minister’s appalling record in this matter and on freedom of information applications, what changes does the minister propose to make to his office practices to deliver greater accountability and transparency? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question. (1)-(3) I disagree with the premise of the question. The member said that I had received advice that I ignored. In fact, the advice I received came from my department—at the time, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development—with the support of the Department of Treasury and Finance and the State Solicitor’s Office. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question. (1)-(3) I disagree with the premise of the question. The member said that I had received advice that I ignored. In fact, the advice I received came from my department—at the time, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development—with the support of the Department of Treasury and Finance and the State Solicitor’s Office. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
I thank the member for Armadale for the question. (1)-(3) I disagree with the premise of the question. The member said that I had received advice that I ignored. In fact, the advice I received came from my department—at the time, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development—with the support of the Department of Treasury and Finance and the State Solicitor’s Office. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
(1)-(3) I disagree with the premise of the question. The member said that I had received advice that I ignored. In fact, the advice I received came from my department—at the time, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development—with the support of the Department of Treasury and Finance and the State Solicitor’s Office. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Did you receive — Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me answer the question. The advice I got from those three departments was that the decision to table the contract was entirely a matter for my discretion. That was the advice I relied upon in making that decision at the time. I was aware of the concerns of the company involved for the commercial-in-confidence aspect of that — Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : You released that information to The West Australian ! That’s what the Auditor General said. You released the information to The West Australian ; why was it commercial-in-confidence? Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Subsequent to that, I have tabled the document. It was tabled before the Auditor General’s report was handed down today, and we are working very closely with the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that the new Department of Regional Development and Lands meets all the compliance requirements of government. I expect to work closely with the Auditor General going forward.
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